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Make Your Own Fringe Trim

Fringes make a lovely trim on cushions, bags, scarves and loads of other projects, and the good news is that you can easily make your own using knitting yarn – which opens up a world of possibilities. Following on from the previous post fringing technique for Polar-fleece, Judy Hall introduces some other fringing techniques which never go out of fashion.

Fringing is not only a trim for scarves, ponchos, rugs and blankets, but also for fashion accessories, clothing, bags and pillows.

The most common way of adding a fringe to a knitted project is to apply yarn with a crochet hook. Wind the yarn around a rectangle of cardboard, book or DVD cover, and then cut along one side of the wound yarn with scissors. This gives multiple equal lengths of yarn. Have these lengths twice the fringe length desired plus another 5cm for the knot. If you wish to use triple knots you will require an additional 10cm. Simply crochet two, three or four lengths together through the edge of your project – giving a simple knot – at regular intervals.

It also helps if you crochet a double crochet row along the edge of your project so you have a firm edge. This also acts as a guide for a more even placement of fringe knots. I also think it looks nicer if you insert the crochet hook from the wrong side of your project so the knot formed appears on the right side.

Judy’s Tip: If you are using a fabric which doesn’t fray, such as a knit or polarfleece, you may use a Skip-Stitch Blade or Edge Stitch Blade in a Rotary Cutter to run along the edge where the fringe is to be applied. This creates an intermittent row of holes making it easy to insert the crochet hook through to make the fringe.

Wind yarn around card and cut for fringe

Products to make fringes easily

There are several other methods for making a fringe trim which you may like to try using a Fringe Fork, Hairpin Crochet Staple, Quick Pleater or even a wire coat-hanger or a piece of wire – both cut and shaped similar to the Hairpin Crochet Staple.

Wrap one or more yarns around the fork shape (using any of the above). The closer together the thicker the fringe. Having the open end at the rear of the sewing foot, machine straight stitch down the centre of the wrapped fork using a small stitch length. You may make the fringe any length you wish by easing the stitched fringe off the back of the fork and then continue to wrap the fork, repeating the above, until the desired length is completed. Leave as is, or cut the looped sides to make a double fringed edge. Another alternative is to carefully stitch along one side of the fork, thus giving a wider finished fringe.

Judy’s Tip: In order not to have the sewing foot catch the loops as you stitch, place a water soluble tape, adhesive tape or a piece of paper over the centre of the wrapped yarn and stitch over this.

If you intend to sew the fringe within an enclosed seam, as you would insert a frill or piping, then place a strip of Seams Great or Design Plus Straight Tape centred over the top of the wrapped yarn and stitch over this. When completed, this tape will fold together giving a seam allowance to sew within the seam of your project.

Fringe fork wrapping

Fringe fork sewing

Fringe fork samples

You may wind the fringe spiral fashion (around and around), stitching sparsely to hold together, thus forming a lovely flower trim. Add a brooch back and you can wear it as a garment embellishment. A long length of Fork Fringing makes a wonderful scarf just as is – wind it around your neck several times as a garment accessory.

Fringe fork flowers

Hairpin Crochet Staples are available in various sizes. Here are three sample sizes.

Hairpin crochet samples

Use the fringe on home décor projects, accessories and garments.

Bag with fringe trim #1

Bag with fringe trim #2

Clover hairpin crochet fringe scarf

Chenille fabric was used for this tartan cotton scarf, with strips of chenille lengths left at each end for the fringe.

Most machine companies also have a Fringe Foot among their accessories and this may be used as a much smaller fringe stitched directly onto your project. Stitched in a spiral fashion, it makes a beautiful flower. Use as heavy a thread as your sewing machine will accommodate.